Journal of cardiothoracic and vascular anesthesia
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J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Oct 2020
Perioperative Point-of-Care Ultrasound and Transesophageal Echocardiography in Resource- Limited Settings-A Focus on Nepal and Bangladesh.
The use of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in the perioperative and critical care setting is increasing worldwide. This increase has been driven by increasing educational opportunities and technologic advances. Nepal and Bangladesh are resource-limited countries where concerted efforts have been made to increase training in POCUS or TEE in the perioperative and critical care settings. ⋯ They also identified barriers to incorporating ultrasound into daily practice in local hospitals. An increasing prevalence of cardiovascular disease will increase the need for diagnostic strategies for patients worldwide, including the use of POCUS and TEE, to manage patients in the perioperative and critical care settings. The courses held in Nepal and Bangladesh may serve as models to expand educational opportunities in POCUS and perioperative TEE in resource-limited settings.
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J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Oct 2020
Artificial Intelligence-Based Assessment of Indices of Right Ventricular Function.
Echocardiographic assessment of right ventricular (RV) function is based largely on visual estimation of tricuspid annulus and motion of the free wall. Regional strain analysis has provided an objective measure of myocardial performance assessment, but is limited in use by vendor-specific software. The study was designed to investigate statistical correlation between RV region-specific strain and echocardiographic parameters of RV function using a vendor-neutral RV-specific strain assessment program. ⋯ RV function can be assessed objectively by strain analyses across different platforms using the artificial intelligence-based vendor-neutral strain analysis software. There is a statistically significant correlation between strain values and conventional 2-dimensional echocardiographic parameters of RV function.
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J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Oct 2020
ReviewInterruption of the European Association of Cardiothoracic Anaesthesiology (EACTA) Fellowship Program During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic: Consequences and Solutions.
This article discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the EACTA fellowship program. The authors present three points that in their view are important and give cause for concern because they could make it difficult or impossible to achieve the original goals of the fellowship program. Corresponding points are discussed and possible solutions are presented. An implementation in the fellowship curriculum is planned.